Conflict with Mexico

Stephen Austin owned land in Texas, passed down from his father

He led a group of 300 Americans to Texas to start a small colony

Americans were told they could stay IF they agreed to become Mexican citizens and worship in the Roman Catholic Church

Growing Conflict

Thousands more flooded into TexasDisregarded Mexican law

Brought slaves and were Protestants1830 Mexico banned further U.S. settlement and

tried to enforce its lawsBegan to levy heavy taxes on U.S. imports

Declaring Independence

In Mexico there was a movement for a more democratic government

1833 General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna took control of governmentOver turned constitution

and began a dictatorship (one person rule)

1836, under urging of Austin, Texans declared independence from Mexico

What Did Mexicans Want?What did the Americans

want?

Texans at war

Santa Anna attacked the Alamo, a mission where Texans and Mexican Texans (Tejanos) were gathered

The Texans and Tejanos held out for 12 days under heavy cannon fire before Mexican forces overran it

All the defenders killed in battle or executed afterwards

Inspired by their bravery, many American volunteers joined the Texan Army

Later Sam Houston, commander of the Texan Army led a surprise attack on Santa Anna at San Jacinto

Captured Santa Anna and forced him to recognize Texan independence

The Republic of TexasThe Republic of Texas

Annexing Texas and Oregon

Election of 1844Election was between Henry Clay (Whig) and

James K. PolkPolk won by promising to annex Texas and Oregon

AnnexationBefore Polk took office President Tyler called for

admission of Texas as stateAs President, Polk negotiated a treaty with Britain

to divide Oregon (Now states of Washington, Oregon, and parts of Idaho)

Tensions with MexicoMexico had never formally recognized

Texan independenceTreaty Santa Anna signed set

boundary at Rio GrandeMexican government claimed

boundary was further north

Beginnings of the Mexican-American War

Polk offered Mexican government cash to settle the border dispute, purchase California and the rest of New Mexico

This angered Mexico and they refusedPolk then tried to provoke the Mexicans

Sent General Zachary Taylor into the disputed land

Mexicans ambushed them and Polk asked Congress for a declaration of war

The Mexican-American War

Causes of the MAW

The Mexican American War

War with Mexico popular with most AmericansSupport was strongest among

Westerners and Southerners who wanted more land

 http://www.pbs.org/kera/usmexicanwar/timeline_flash.html

Why would Southerners want more land?

How would the belief in “Manifest Destiny” make people support the war?

Why would Westerners want more land?

Many Northerners argued that Polk had provoked the warHow had Polk “provoked” the war?

Polk

Rebellion in California

Polk ordered troop under the command of Stephen Kearny to invade and capture Santa Fe, New Mexico

Settlers near San Francisco had begun their own revolt against Mexico

They raised a grizzly bear flag and declared California an independent republic

John C. Fremont took control of the “Bear Flag Rebellion”

Quickly captured major cities of California (Monterey and San Francisco)

Fremont

He then moved on to join forces with U.S. troops under the command of Kearny

Kearny’s troops captured Santa Fe and San Diego

United with naval units to occupy all of southern California

Kearny

Invasion of Mexico

General Zachary Taylor and General Winfield Scott swept through Mexico with stunning victories even though they were often outnumbered

How do you think they still won?

Scott’s campaign ended at Chapultepec, a stone palace above the capital of Mexico City

The Mexican troops fought bravely to defend Chapultepec, but most were killed

How is this similar to the American experience at the Alamo?

After Americans won the capital city, Santa Anna fled

The U.S. had won the war

Achieving Manifest Destiny

The war ended with the signing of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo

Under the treaty, Mexico recognized the annexation of Texas and gave the U.S. large amounts of territory

Mexican Cession included present day California, Nevada, Utah and parts of Wyoming, Colorado, Arizona, and New Mexico

U.S. also paid $15 million for this land

In the Gadsden Purchase of 1853, U.S. paid Mexico $10 million for a narrow strip of present day Arizona and New Mexico

Effects of the MAW

The Mexican CessionThe Mexican Cession

How did Each Person Help bring Mexican land under u.s. control?

A. General Kearny

B. General Zachary Taylor

C. General Winfield Scott

D. John Fremont

E. President Tyler

F. President Polk

G. Stephen Austin

H. Sam Houston